GLISPA is an initiative that was launched at the Conference of the Parties (COP 8) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2006 as a mechanism for implementing the CBD’s Programmes of Work on Protected Areas and Island Biodiversity. The partnership is managed by a steering committee which includes representatives of the Governments of the Seychelles, Palau, and Italy, the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the CBD Secretariat, UNEP’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), representatives from the Caribbean and Micronesian Challenges, the Global Invasive Species Program, GEF, The Nature Conservancy, and IUCN.

“Kate's appointment puts IUCN in the best possible position to support and expand GLISPA as a major partnership delivering on the CBD programme of work on islands. GLISPA provides invaluable support to island states and states with islands in addressing the challenges of conservation and climate change adaptation,” exclaims Neville Ash, Head of IUCN’s Ecosystem Management Programme. “We are extremely pleased that Kate is on board, and look forward to working with her as the Partnership grows,” he continues.

IUCN is also extremely grateful to the Italian Government and to the US State Department for supporting the establishment of the GLISPA Coordination unit and expresses its sincere gratitude to The Nature Conservancy for coordinating GLISPA to date. TNC has provided continuing support to GLISPA’s communication, coordination and strategy implementation work.

Kate will oversee the coordination of all GLISPA activities and work closely with the GLISPA Steering Committee members and GLISPA partners to ensure the success of the GLISPA mission and objectives.

“I am passionate about islands and island people,” gushes Kate who clearly loves her job. “I am looking forward to developing island issues globally, and sharing information between island countries and countries with islands. My objective is to support island leadership and commitment by facilitating both technical and financial resources which will seek to help islands meet their goals and advance island conservation and sustainable livelihoods.”

Originally from New Zealand, Kate spent eight years working on island issues at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme in Apia, Samoa prior to joining IUCN. She has also worked with the UNFPA in the Pacific, and the Western Australian Government to support programme implementation, fundraising, coordination and communication processes. Kate has a B.A. in Journalism and Politics from Curtin University, Australia.